40' Stock Car

Prototype Information

The 40′ stock car moved livestock across North America for nearly a century. Slatted sides provided essential ventilation for cattle, sheep, and pigs. Early designs used wood construction. By the mid-20th century, railroads adopted steel frames and ends for heavier loads. Some cars featured adjustable internal decks. This allowed workers to carry smaller animals in two layers, doubling the capacity of a single car.

The stock car era peaked between the 1920s and the 1950s. Massive shipments moved from Western ranges to packing centers like Chicago. Federal laws forced railroads to unload animals for rest every 28 hours. This created a vast network of trackside pens. The expanding interstate highway system eventually allowed trucks to offer faster service. Railroads rapidly phased out the 40′ stock car by the late 1960s. Most remaining units became scrap or maintenance-of-way equipment.